Dustpan mechanism



UCL l, 1940. z NA W. CUMMlNS 2,216,185

DUSTPAN MECHANI SM Filed June v50, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l5 S40,

@im x j w l N V E N TO R Harman W Cummins BY M26-W ATTDRNEY PatentedOct. I, 1940 PATENT OFFICE DUs'rPAN MECHANISM Norman W. Cummins,Louisville, Ky.

Application June 30, 1938, serial No. 216,688

10 Claims.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in carpet sweeper constructions,and particularly to improvements in the construction and arrangement ofdustpan operating mechanisms.

The features of my invention as disclosed in this applicatiomhaveparticular reference to carpet sweepers of the classthat do not employ aconventional exterior bail for pivotally attaching the operating handleto the casing. In sweepers of this class; the operating handle may bepivotally mounted on the top of the sweeper casing, or projected throughan opening in the top ofthe sweeper cas-ing and secured to a transverseshaft within the casing, which shaft is scope of the appended claims.y

" pivotally mounted on the end partitions of the casing. `Otherequivalent methods of pivotally attaching the operating "handle to thesweeper` casing will be apparent as the present disclosure is studied bythose familiar with carpet Sweeper constructions'. that, althoughthepresent disclosure is made in specific terms of an interiorly pivotedhandle without an external baiLthe scope of my invention is in no wiseto be limited otherthan by the It is to be further understood thatithe`scopeV of this disclosure,

and its appended clx'alirra` is not to be lessened or restricted byreason ofthe filing of my copendingapplicationr Serial'Number 216,687,iiled June 30, 1938,"and entitled Carpet sweeper, which applicationembraces certain specific problems encountered in applying the broadprinciples of this invention tosweepers of the class that emv ploy anexternal bail for pivotally attaching the A operated, `and positive inits action.

`Astill further object vof my invention is to provide a relativelysimple, `practical and efficient construction thatwill facilitateassembly and reduce manufacturing costs. i i

The advantages of these and-other objects of my invention will be moreapparent as the following description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawings illustrating one preferred embodiment of the broadprinciples of my invention and its constructional details, in which:

However, it is to be understood Figure l is a plan view of a sweeperembodying my invention, showing the general relation between theoperating handle 4 and the top of the sweeper casing, when the operatinghandle is substantially in a vertical position; 5

Figure 2 is an end View of the sweeper illustrated in Figure 1, showingthe relation between wheels l5, brush |4,`dustpans i8, I8, retainingspring I E and operating handle 4, when the operating handle issubstantially in a `vertical posi- 10 tion;

` Figure 3 is' an enlarged partial sectional View taken along lines 3 3of Figure 2, illustrating the construction and arrangement of thedustpan actuating lever 3 interms of the operating 15 handle'4;

`Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional View taken along lines 4 4 ofFigure 2, illustrating the manner in which spring lever Il is pivotallymounted on the end partition` l2; 20

Figure 5 is an `enlarged partial sectional View taken along lines 5 5 ofFigure 3, illustrating the construction and arrangement of the pivot 2a,for the dustpan actuating lever 3;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional View taken along 25 the `transversecenter line of Figure 1, illustrating the manner in which chain 8, orits equivalent, interconnects the actuating plunger 1 and spring leverII;

Figure l7 is an enlarged partial sectional view 30 taken along lines 1 1of Figure 6, illustrating the method of attaching the ared spring guide2l to the hollow transverse shaft I0;

Figure 8 is an enlarged partial sectional View taken along lines 8 8 ofFigure 6, showing the construction of the hollow shaft I U;

Figure 9 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along lines 9 9 ofFigure 2, illustrating the manner in which each dustpan l`8 is pivotallymounted `on each end partition l2 and 12a;

Figure 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken adjacent theexterior face of end partition l2, showing the construction of bearingportion Illa of hollow pintle Ill, and the manner in which the bearingportion Illa, is retained in re- 45 cess 25 by a retaining strap 20;

Figure 11 is an enlarged partial plan view showing the manner in whichVspring 8 is secured to actuating plunger 'l and spring lever Il.

The broad principles of the present invention, as illustrated in theabove designated drawings, are applied to a sweeper employing aconventional dustpan` spring arrangement, wherein the ends of aninverted loopv spring are secured to opposite dustpans. Ordinarily twosuch springs 55 are employed one adjacent the inner face of each endpartition I2 and I2a. However, in the accompanying drawings, only onesuch spring is shown. Normally, these springs act to bias the dustpansto .their closed positions. Thus, to dump the dustpans, it is customaryto raise the loop of one of the dustpan springs, and to thereby pull thedustpans to an open or dumping position.

To raise the spring loop, it has been customary to provide a dumpinglever pivotally mounted on one end of the sweeper housing. One end ofsuch lever has been attached to the spring loop, while the other end hasbeen arranged so that it could be depressed by an operator.

As adverted to in my aforesaid copending application, this arrangementhas been found to be objectionable in that the operator is required tohold the sweeper handle and steady the sw-eeper housing while actuatingthe dumping lever.

Limitations, controlled by the practical width of the sweeper casings,have not allowed a satisfactory ratio for the casing carried dumpinglever. Accordingly', considerable pressure has been required to raiseone spring loop against the biasing action of the other spring.

A more serious objection has been encountered as a result of the clumsyand awkward operation of the casing carried dumping lever. Accordingly,since the success of carpet sweepers depends upon frequent and regularcleaning of the dustpans, the actuating mechanism for opening andclosing the dustpans has becom-e a problem of serious concern. l

To overcome these and lesser objections, not specifically enumerated, Ihave arranged the dustpan actuating lever so that it is carried by theoperating handle of the sweeper.

This arrangement enables the operator to, in effect, ignore the relativeposition of the casing with respect to the operating handle, whenactuating the dustpan dump lever carried by the operating handle.

Placing the actuating lever on the operating handle, has made possible avery desirable lever ratio, and a definitely improved finger grip, sothat the lever may be actuated either by pulling or pushing, accordingto the preference of the operator.

Thus, my invention provides for simple and easy operation of the dustpanactuating lever, and in a manner that is more graceful and natural forthe operator.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, it will beobserved that the sweeper casing I includes end partitions I2 and IZa.

In Figure 1 it will be observed that the sweeper casing I is providedwith a one-piece metal cover that is equipped with a rubber band portionIb, which hand portion protects the furniture etc. from scratches andexcessive abrasions. Within the metal cover, end partitions I2 and I2aare placed as shown in Figure 6, which partitions are connected by sidemembers I9, I9 as illustrated in Figure 2.

In either Figure 1, 2 or 3, it will be observed that the operatinghandle 4 is secured through a ferrule connection 5 to a hollow arm 6,which arm projects through an aperture in the top of the sweeper casingand is rigidly secured to a hollow shaft I0 extending transversely ofthe sweeper casing.

In Figure 6 the rigid connection of hollow arm 6 to the hollow shaft I0is clearly shown. In the herein illustrated embodiment of my invention,

I have preferably fashioned the hollow shaft I0 from sheet stock.

Figures '7, 8 and l0 show the relative sectional shape at thecorresponding points transversely along the hollow shaft I6. At thecenter of shaft II), opposite the rigid connection of arm 6 thereto, thesectional shape of shaft Ill substantially corresponds with that of thebearing portions Illa. shown in Figure 10.

Referring again to Figure 6 it will be observed that fabricated brushcombs 22 are rigidly secured to shaft I0, and are constructed so as toclose the gap formed along the lower side of the shaft, shown in Figure8.

In Figures 6 and l0 the pivotal mounting of shaft I0 in the endpartitions I2 and I2a is clearly illustrated. It will be noted that eachpartition is provided with a rounded recess 25 receiving thecorresponding bearing portions Illa of shaft III, and that eachpartition is further provided with a rectangular recess receiving aretaining strap 26, which strap is secured thereto by brads 2li, ortheir equivalent.

Each remote end of shaft II) is provided with a depending arm Iilb thatcarries a pin 9. The pins 9, 9 do not form a part of the dustpanoperating mechanism, as they are used in connection with a pressureregulating device for the wheels carried by the corresponding partition.In Figure 2 the general shape of the arms Illb is illustrated.

As adverted to at the outset, hollow arm 6 is rigidly secured to shaftI0. In the herein illustrated embodiment, this connection is effected byproviding shaft I0 with an aperture through which the arm 6 passes. Toprovide a very rigid and substantial connection of arm 6 to shaft I6,the arm 6 is bifurcated. The bifurcations are bent at 90 degrees to arm6 and welded to the inner face of hollow shaft I6. Accordingly, theaforesaid construction provides an uninterrupted communication betweenthe hollow portion 6b of arm 6, and the hollow portion of shaft I0. Thisconstruction is utilized in the operation of the dustpan actuatingmechanism, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

In Figures 6 and 2 it will be noted that a brush I4, of the conventionaltype, is pivotally supported transversely between the end partitions I2and I2a by bearing pins 23, 23. Similarly, a pair of dustpans I6, ID arepivotally mounted transversely between the end partitions, in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 9. The relation between the dustpans, brush andshaft pivots Illa is particularly shown in Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to Figure 2, it will be observed that thedustpans are connected by a wire spring I6 having an upwardly extendingloop. As hereinbefore mentioned, two such springs are ordinarily used,one adjacent the inner face of each partition I2 and |20., and eachspring is arranged to normally bias the dustpans to their closedpositions. To simplify the drawings, only one such spring is shown inthe accompanying drawings, and it is to be understood that my inventionwill perform equally well, insofar as dustpan dumping is concerned,whether one or both springs are used.

A spring lever II is pivotally mounted on the end partition I2 by abearing pin I3, as illustrated in Figure 4. The free end of spring leverII is provided with an upstanding projection, which projection engagesthe uppermost portion of the inverted spring loop.

As illustrated in Figures 3, 6 and 11, a chain il, or otherflexibleconnecting member, permanently interconnects an actuating plunger 'Iwithinthe hollow arm 6, and the upstandingprojection on spring lever II.

In the accompanying drawings, a conventional plumbing waste stopperchain 8 is shown, and the chain is secured to spring lever I l bypassing the upstanding projection through one of its rectangularopenings. In order to assure that the spring I6` remains connected tothe spring lever` II, a small loop is fashioned in the uppermost portionof the inverted spring loop through which the upstanding projectionlikewise passes.

Referring in particular to Figure 6, it will be observed that one of thebifurcations of the hollowarm 6 is formed with a suitable curvature soas to provide a satisfactory guide and bearing for chain 8, where thechain passes from the hollow arm 6 into the hollow shaft I0. Similarly,the

hollow` shaft I3, adjacent partition I2, is pro-` vided with a flaredspring guide 2l, which guide is rigidly `secured to the lower face ofhollow shaft Ill so as to provide a satisfactory guide and bearing forchain 8 vvhere'it` passes from hollow shaft I to connect spring arm ll.

From the description thus far presented, it will be obvious that anupward movement of the actuating plunger 'I will pull chain 8, which, inturn, will raise the loop of spring I6, and thereby move simultaneouslythe dustpans I8, I8 to open or dumping position.

To provide the most satisfactory operation of the actuating plungeril,an actuating lever 3 is pivotally secured` to hollow arm 6 by a suitablebearing pin 2a. The construction of the bearing pin is particularlyshown in Figure 5.

In Figures 1 and 2 the relative position of the operating lever 3 withrespect to the detachable operating handle 4, is shown. At this timeattention is directed to the threaded portion of arm E, and theassociated adjusting nuts 6c. Inspection of Figures 2 and` 3 will revealthat the `actuating lever 3 is pivotally mounted on a ring member 2,which ring member surrounds the threaded portion of hollow arm 6. Inthis respect it is to be understood that the ring member 2 is freelyslidable` along the threaded portion of arm 6. Thus, the adjusting nuts6c serve to rigidly secure the ring member 2, to hollow arm 6 in itsproper operating location.

Obviously, variation in the length of chains 8 is encountered inproduction. Accordingly, adjusting nuts 6c are employed to compensatefor such variations inchain lengths. Thus, for longer chains, the ringmember 2 is moved upwardly along arm 6, while, for shorter chains, thering member 2 islowered., v

Figure 3 is an enlarged `sectional view showing the actuating lever 3.Therefore, operation of the actuating lever can be clearly understood byreferring to Figure 3.

It will be noted that the upper end of actuating lever 3 is fashionedwith a suitable finger grip, while the lower end is provided with asuitable cam that projects through a slot 6c in hollow arm 6 into theinterior thereof.

As hereinbefore described, an actuating plunger I is arranged within thehollow arm 6. In Figure 11 the construction of the actuating plunger 'Iis shown.` Thus, it will be apparent, from an inspection of Figures 3and 11, that the cam portion of actuating lever 3 operates in the milledslot 'Ib of the actuating plunger 1.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that operation of thedustpans is accomplished by moving the finger grip outwardly from thehollow arm 6, which moving may be effected either by pulling or pushingactuating leverr3,` according to the preference of the operator.

. Therefore, with the actuating lever 3 in the position shown in Figure3, spring I6 biases the dustpans I8, I8 to their closed or operatingpositions. Moving the nger grip outwardly, as aforesaid, raisesactuating plunger T, which, in

turn, pulls chain 8 and accordingly raises thev associated spring I 8.Raising the latter mentioned spring opens the dustpans against thebiasing action of the other spring. At this time reference` is made tothe fact that in order to vprovide sufficient opening of dustpans I8,I8,

it is not necessary to raise the free ends of spring I6 above thepivotal center ofdustpan pivots I1, Il. Accordingly, the spring IB isalways positioned to bias the dustpans I8, I8 toward their closedpositions. Therefore, closing of the dustpans is accomplished by thebiasing action of spring I6, when the lever 3 is restored to its normalposition.

In Figure 2 the usual wheels of the carpet sweeper are shown. While thewheels are not shown in Figure 6, it is to be understood that suchwheels are ordinarily located adjacent the respective outside faces ofend partitions I2 and IZa. Accordingly, in the present embodiment of myinvention, the wheels are covered by the one-piece cover.

In order to` provide sufficient angular movement for the operatinghandle 4, a slot is formed in the top of the sweeper casing, Thus, toeliminate dust leakage from the slot, I have provided a trim plate lahaving a depending well and a suitable smaller slot for straddling thehollow shaft I8. The construction and arrangement -of the trim plate isparticularlyshown in` Figures l and 6.

Thus, it will be apparent that my invention has provided a veryefficient and conveniently operable dustpan dumping mechanism that canbe operated independently of the relative positions of the sweepercasing and operating han- Aolle, which mechanism requires the minimumhandling of parts o-f the sweeper by the operator while actuating thedumping mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A carpet` sweepercomprising, in combination,a dust compartment having a top and endwalls, said top having a centrally disposed opening therein; dustpanswithin the said compartment pivotally mounted between the said endwalls; a spring within the said dust compartment located adjacent theinner surface of one end wall thereof, and extending between the pansfo-r normally biasing the said pans to their closed positions, the saidspring having an up,

wardly extending loop, which is raised to dump the said dustpans; ahollow shaft pivotally mounted within the said dust compartment, havingone of its ends extending adjacent to and above the said upwardlyextending loop; a hollowstub handle i'ixedly secured to the said shaftand projecting 4through the said opening; the bore ofthe hollow stubhandle communicating with the bore of the hollow shaft; a dumping leverpivotally mounted on the said stub4 handle; and a flexible cableoperating within the bores of the stub handle and shaft, operativelyconnecting the dumping lever and the said `upwardly extendingV loop, forraising the said loop to dump the pans when the lever is actuated.

2. A carpet sweeper comprising, in combination, a dust compartmenthaving a top member and end walls, the said top having an openingtherethrough communicating with the interior of the said compartment; adustpan within the said compartment pivotally mounted between the saidend walls; a hollow stub handle projecting through the said opening andpivotally mounted to the carpet sweeper within the said dustcompartment; a dumping lever pivotally mounted on the said handle; aspring within the dust compartment normally biasing the said pan to itsclosed position, the said spring having an upwardly extending loop,which is raised to dump the said dustpan; and a flexible cable extendingfrom within the dust compartment through the bore of the handle andoperatively connecting the said upwardly extending loop and said lever,for raising the said loop to dump the said pan, when the said lever isactuated.

3. A dustpan actuating mechanism for a carpet sweeper, comprising, asweeper casing, the

-` said casing having an opening in the top member thereof communicatingwith the interior of the said casing; a hollow stub handle pivotallymounted within the casing projecting outwardly through the said openingand having an operating handle iixedly secured to the outer endthereor", the said stub handle having a longitudinal slot formed thereinadjacent its outer end; a plunger slidably mounted within the bore ofthe said stub handle and longitudinally movable therein; a leverpivotally mounted on the said stub handle adjacent the said longitudinalslot, the said lever having a projection extending through thelongitudinal slot and operatively engaging the said plunger, for movingthe said plunger longitudinally upwardly when the lever is actuated; adustpan pivotally mounted within the saidA casing; and means extendingfrom within the casing through the bore of the said stub handle, andoperatively connecting the said plunger and said dustpan for moving thedustpan to an open position, when the said plunger is movedlongitudinally upwardly by actuation of the said lever.

4. A carpet sweeper comprising, in combination, a dust compartmenthaving a top member and side walls, said top having a centrally disposedopening therein; dust pans pivotally mounted within the saidcompartment; a spring within the said dust compartment located adjacentthe inner face of one side wall thereof, and operatively associated withthe pans for normally biasing the said pans to their closed positions,the said spring having an upwardly extending loop which is raised todump the said pans; a hollow shaft pivotally mounted within the saiddust compartment, and having one of its ends extending substantiallyadjacent to and above the said upwardly extending loop; a hollow handleiixedly secured to the said shaft and projecting through the saidopening, the bore of the hollow handle communicating with the bore ofthe hollow shaft; an actuating member movably mounted on the saidhandle; and means operating within the bores of the said handle and saidshaft, and operatively connecting the said actuating member the saidupwardly extending loop, for raising the said loop to dump the pans,when the said member is actuated.

5. A carpet sweeper comprising, in combination, a dust compartmenthaving a top member and side wallspthe said top having an openingtherethroughA communicating with the interior of the said compartment; adustpan pivotally mounted within the said compartment; a hollow handleprojecting through the said opening, and pivotally secured to the carpetsweeper within the said dust compartment; an actuating member movablymounted on the said handle; a spring within the said dust compartmentoperatively associated with the said pan and normally biasing the saidpanto its closed position, the said spring having an upwardly extendingloop which is raised to dump the said dustpan; and means extending fromwithin the said dust com-v partment through the bore vof .the saidhandle, and operatively connecting the said upwardly extending loop andthe said actuating member, for raising the said loop to dump the saidpan, when the said member is actuated.

6. A carpet sweeperl comprising, in combination, a dust compartmenthaving a top member and side walls, thefsaid top having an openingtherethrough communicating` with the interior of the dust compartment;Ia dustpan pivotally mounted within the said compartment; a springwithin the said dust compartment located adjacent the inner face' of oneside wall thereof, and operatively associated with the pan for normallybiasing the same to a closed position, the said spring having anupwardly extending loop which is raised to dump `the said dustpan; alever pivotally mounted adjacent the inner face of the said one sidewall, and having its free end operatively engaging the upwardlyextending loop of the said spring; a hollow shaft pivotally mountedwithin the said dust compartment, and having one of its ends extendingsubstantially adjacent to 'and above the said lever; a hollow handlerixedly secured to the said shaft and projecting through the saidopening, the bore of the hollow handle communicating with the bore ofthe` hollow shaft; an actuating member mounted on the said handle; andmeans operating within the bores of the said handle and said shaft, andoperatively connecting the said actuating member and the said lever, foractuating the said lever to raise the loop of the said spring and thusmove the said pan to a dumping position, when the said member isactuated.

'7. A carpet sweeper comprising, in combination, a dust compartmenthaving a top member and side walls, tthe said top having an openingtherethrough communicating with the interior of the said compartment; adustpan pivotally mounted within the said dust compartment; meansoperatively associated with the said pan', for biasing the same to'aclosed position; a hollow handle projecting through the said opening,and pivotally secured to the said sweeper within the said dustcompartment; an actuating member movably mounted on the said handle; andmeans extending from within the said dust compartment through the boreof the said handle, and operatively connecting the said pan and the saidactuating member, for moving the said pan to a dumping position, whenthe said member is actuated. v

8.A carpet sweeper comprising, in combination, a dust compartment havinga top member and sidewalls, the said top having an opening therethroughcommunicating with the interior of the said compartment; dustpanspivotally mounted within the said dust compartment; dumping meansoperatively associated with the said pans, for moving the pans to adumping position, when the said dumping means is actuated; a hollowhandle projecting through the said opening, and pivotally secured to thesaid sweeper within the said dust compartment; an actuating membermovably mounted on the said handle; and means extending from within thesaid compartment through the bore of the said handie, and operativelyconnecting the said dumping means and the said actuating member, foractuatingthe said dumping means, and thus moving the said pans to adumping position, when the said member is actuated.

9. A carpet sweeper comprising, in combination, a dust compartmenthaving a top member and side walls, the said top having an openingtherethrough communicating with the interior of the said compartment; adustpan disposed within the said compartment and pivotally secured tothe said sweeper; a hollow handle projecting through the said `openingand pivotally secured to the said sweeper within the said compartment;an actuating plunger slidably mounted within the bore of the said handleand longitudinally movable therein; a spring within the said compartmentoperatively associated with the said pan and normally biasing the sameto a closed position, the said spring having an upwardly extending loopthat is raised to dump the said pan; means extending from within thesaid compartment through the bore of the said handle, and operativelyconnecting the said' loop, and said plunger, for raising the loop todump kthe said pan, when the said plunger is moved longitudinallyupwardly; and an actuating member movably mounted on the said handle,and operatively engaging the said plunger, for moving the said plungerlongitudinally upwardly, when the said member is actuated.

10. A carpet sweeper comprising, in combination, a dust compartmenthaving a top member and side walls, the said top having an openingtherethrough communicating with the interior of the said compartment; adustpan disposed within the said compartment, and pivotally secured tothe said sweeper; a hollow handle projecting `through the said openingand pivotally secured to the said sweeper within the said compartment; aspring within the said compartment operatively associated with the saidpan, and normally biasing the same to a closed position, the said springhaving an upwardly extending loop that is raised to dump the said pan;actuating means slidably mounted within the bore of the said handle forlongitudinal movement therein, and extending longitudinally through thebore of the said handle into the interior of the NORMAN W. CUMIMINS.

